By Eric Elezuo

The governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has officially flagged off the construction of the flyover bridge at Lagere Junction, in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The flag off marks the commencement of the construction work in fulfillment of the governor’s promise of massive infrastructural development of the state.

In his speech at the event, Adeleke noted that “the project location was justified on the ground of easing traffic, facilitating connectivity and attracting adjacent economic activities.”

He adde that “Ile Ife deserves not only an infra upgrade but a classical upliftment to enhance the tourism capital of this divine town. This is what our government is launching today. We are on a match to greater height for Ile Ife and Osun State as a whole.”

Also present at the flag off ceremony was the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

The full full speech:

I warmly welcome the sons and daughters of Ile Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race, to this epoch making event. I congratulate His Royal Majesty, the Ooni of Ife for having this landmark project under his watch.

Ile Ife is the source of the Yoruba race. I understand the deep level of infra deficit across the five local governments. Consequently, we decided as a government to address the challenges by applying a big view approach.

The infra deficit covers roads, health, water and schools. In the multi-billion naira agenda, we earmarked specific projects for this ancient city. Many are ongoing and more are still coming.

We were at Ilesa last week to flag off road dualisation. Today we are here to bring to reality the construction of a flyover bridge. This iconic bridge, the first of its kind in this land of the source.

The project location was justified on the ground of easing traffic, facilitating connectivity and attracting adjacent economic activities. Ile Ife deserves not only an infra upgrade but a classical upliftment to enhance the tourism capital of this divine town. This is what our government is launching today. We are on a match to greater height for Ile Ife and Osun State as a whole.

I want to use this platform to assure elders, sons and daughters of Ile Ife that our government is committed to solving the many developmental issues facing this city. We are applying phased project implementation strategies due to the huge infra deficit with attendant low funding capacity. We however assure all and sundry that our strategy will eventually fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of all our people.
Even with funding constraints, our government has delivered on various fronts for the Ife area. Kindly permit me to list areas of our achievements and plans for the future across the five local government area of Osun state as follows:
IFE EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1 Asphaltic Tarring of Oriyangi- Oke Atan – Ogbedu Road
2 Tarring of Ife City – Benediction to Olasode
3 Renovation of Yekemi Maternity
4 Renovation of 3 Buildings of a Block of 3 Classrooms at LA Primary School Ilode
PROPOSED
1 Asphaltic Tarring of Olurin Road _1.5km(Ife East and Ife Ooye)
2 Renovation of Ifelodun Maternity

IFE NORTH LGA

1. Provision of seven boreholes across the LGA
2. Renovation of schools across the lGA
3. Commencement of three road construction across the LGA
IFE SOUTH WEST LCDA
1. Proposed renovation of garage olode Health center,
2. Proposed renovation of one block of class room in united Anglican primary school garage olode,
3. Proposed renovation of one class room in ara Alubati in Osi ward in ife south west LCDA awolowo town garage olode ife
IFE NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. Renovation of 5 blocks of classroom at L.A.pry. school, Ipetumodu
2. Provision of 4 motorized water borehole
3. Approval for the construction of 1.5 km Akinlalu township road.
IFE NORTH AREA COUNCIL, OYERE ABORISADE
6 Motorized borehole at :
1. Molodo, Oyere Ward 1
2. Okuomo Famia Ward
3. Atowo, Oyere Ward 2
4. Fadehan, Oyere Ward 2
5. Isanlu, Oyere Ward 2
6. Womonle, Oyere Ward 2

IFE NORTH WEST LCDA EDUNABON
1. Renovation of 3 blocks of 3 classrooms each at C A C pry. School Edunabon
2. Renovation of 4 blocks of 3 classrooms each at L.A pry. School, Edunabon
3. Provision of 3 motorized borehole at Edunabon and Moro
Area Office, Modakeke
1.Rehabilitation of schools
2.Rehabilitation of health centre
3. Ongoing reconstruction of local road

Our good people of Ile Ife and Osun as a whole, we are here for two in one event. We are flagging off the flyover bridge at Lagere Junction as well as the commencement of 55 kilometers of roads across the 30 local governments and the area office.

After compliance with the due process and procurement laws, the flyover bridge is awarded to Messrs Sammya Nigeria limited at a total project cost of Fourteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy One (N14,938,924,771.45). The completion period is Twelve Months.
Additionally, I flag off the construction of Local Government Roads totalling 55.86km at the cost of N30,677,814,099.42. This is also to have a completion period of twelve months.

I urge the various contractors and the host communities to partner closely for the successful execution of the projects. Community relations must never be downplayed.

On this note, it is my honour and privilege to flag off these landmark projects.

HE, Governor Ademola Adeleke,
Executive Governor of Osun State .

All is not very well with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as six of its very senior officers have reportedly been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The senior officers, according to The Punch report, were grilled by EFCC interrogators at the commission’s headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.

The paper gathered that the NSCDC officers were handed over to the EFCC on Monday on the order of the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi.

The papaer further informed that impeccable sources privy to the development but who were not authorised to speak to the press revealed that the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had earlier written a letter to the NSCDC CG, demanding the officers’ release for interrogation.

It wrote:

A source revealed, “Six senior NSCDC officers are currently in our custody. They’re being grilled by our investigators over alleged fraudulent activities running into over N6bn.”

Confirming the development, another source said, “The EFCC did not arrest the NSCDC CG, neither is he being probed. We only have six senior NSCDC officers in our custody, and they’re being probed over alleged N6bn fraud.

“The EFCC Chairman had earlier written to the NSCSC CG to provide the officers, and the CG did. Now they’re in our custody and are being grilled by EFCC interrogators.”

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for comments on Monday as phone calls and text messages to his phone lines were not responded to nor returned.

Meanwhile, when contacted for comments, the spokesperson for the NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, said he was not aware of the development.

“I’m not aware of this,” Afolabi said in a terse WhatsApp message sent to our correspondent on Monday.

However, a whatsapp message sent to the National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, by The Boss, on Tuesday, to confirm the arrest or otherwise, was not responded to.

The National Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms on Tuesday, denied at least 10 television stations from accessing the gallery as Senators resume at the newly renovated Chamber for legislative activities, the

A Sergeant-At-Arm operative, who was stationed at the entrance of the Chamber, told journalists that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed the security unit to restrict and prune down the number of media houses covering proceedings

Reports say that a document signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, pasted at the entrance to the hallowed chamber listed only seven media houses permitted to cover proceedings.

Those accredited include the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Channels Television, African Independent Television (AIT), Television Continental (TVC), Arise News, Newage and ADBN.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Press Corps, on Wednesday last week, met with the Clerk of the Senate to harmonise issues relating to covering its proceedings in the chamber.

Journalists who report the National Assembly have expressed shock at the action of the Senate, coming only a few days after the World Press Freedom Day.